Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Lagaan’ would undoubtedly rank among the defining films of the 21st century. Marking Aamir Khan’s debut as a producer, the film not only stands the test of time but has only grown richer with age, setting a benchmark for commercial cinema in both storytelling and emotional depth. Interestingly, the stories from behind the scenes are just as gripping as what unfolds on screen.
Aamir Khan recalls being scolded by Reema Kagti on ‘Lagaan’ sets
During a recent chat with Just Too Filmy, Aamir shared a humorous incident from the sets of ‘Lagaan’, where assistant director Reema Kagti, who later directed him in ‘Talaash’, reprimanded him for not being on time for a shot. Recalling the moment, he said with a laugh, “Lagaan had so many actors, and she was the second AD. She had to plan all the timings, like who would come at what time, who would have breakfast when, etc. They used to keep 15 minutes for breakfast, and I eat slowly, I do everything slowly, so I told them to call me 15 minutes earlier. She scolded me and said, ‘For you, the whole hair and makeup team will not come 15 minutes earlier’.”He further added: “I’m the producer and she is scolding me. I said, ‘It takes time for me.’ She said, ‘I don’t care, you have to come…’ She spoke to me very harshly. I felt hurt. So I said, ‘From now on, I will not have breakfast.’ It didn’t affect her; she said, ‘Very good, you can be ready on time then.’ After a week, exhausted, I went back to having breakfast there again.”
‘Lagaan’ remains a landmark in Indian cinema
‘Lagaan’, which hit theatres in June 2001, is widely regarded as one of Indian cinema’s finest achievements. It remains the most recent Indian film to secure a nomination in the Oscars’ Best Foreign Language Film category and also earned eight National Film Awards.
